Machine for treating seed grain



Feb. 16 1926.

Filed June 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 16 1926. C. C. CALKINS MACHINE FOR TREATING SEED GRAIN Filed June 28, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheef 2 C. L. Cal/him,

UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE.

CLAUDE C. CALKINS, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

MACHINE FOR TREATING SEED GItAIN'.

Application filed June 28, 1923. Serial No. 648,330.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE C. CALKrNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Treating Seed Grain,-of which the following is a specification.

The present mvention relates particularly to machines for treating seed grain, such as.

wheat, by coating the grain while in the ma chine, with powder or material which will be instrumental in withstanding the attacks on the seed grain of disease or fungus growth, as smut, after the seed grain has been planted.

The present invention provides a machine especially adapted for treating grain by the dry method, and has for its primary, object the application of a powder, such as copper carbonate, to the seed grain, in proper quantities. This powder is supplied in regulated quantities, the grain and powder agitated and thoroughly mixed to coat the grain, and the excess powder is separated from. the coated grain and recovered for future use. After the excess powder has been separated from the grain the coated grain is discharged from the machine and properly cared for.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter bemore fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged ao-.

cording to the best mode I have thus far dovised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine for treating grain according tov my in vention.

Figure 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view at line 3-3 of Figure 2. 4

Figure 4 is a transverse section at line 1- 1% of Figure 2. I

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view at the discharge end of the machine.

Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of the receiving head of the rotary drum.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view at line 7-7 of Figure 2. I

In carrying out my invention I utilize a main frame 1 for supporting the operating parts of the machine, and at the front end of the main frame a feed hopper 2 is located at the proper elevation. This hopper receives the seed grain to be treated from a -.fanning mill or other suitable source of supply, and within the upper portion of the hopper 2 a smaller hopper or powder box 3 is supported. This latter hop-per or box is adapted to contain copper carbonate or other similar powdered material for treating the grain, and feed the powder to the seed as the latter is fed through its hopper.

The bot-tom of the hopper 3 is perforated with a series of alined holes 3 formed therein for discharge therethrough of the powder, and this discharge is regulated as to quantity by means of an adjustable slide plate 5 which controls the number of uncovered openings in the hopper bottom. The slide plate is located beneath the perforated bottom and has suitable guideways for guiding it in its movement and retaining it in position. means of the slide plate the proportion of powder to the quantity of grain may be fixed as desired.

To stir the powder within its hopperand prevent packing thereof I utilize a U-shapc agitator 6 which swings across the bottom of the hopper above its perforations 3 and brushes the powder through the perforated hopper bottom, to insure a free feed of the powder.

The U-shaped stirrer depends from and the lever is oscillated. A pair of opposed springs 4 attached to the T-lever and anchored at their outer ends on a portion of the main frame afford a resilientcushion for the oscillating movement of the 'T-lever and by their action tend to bring the T-lever to its normal perpendicular position as seen in Figure 1; The'T-lever ,rocks the rock shaft and through the latter the U-shaped stirrer is swung back and forth over the perforated bottom of the powder hopper to insure proper feed of the powder therethrough.

The rotary drum 7 is of cylindrical form and is journaled to revolve on the longitudinally disposed shaft 7". The shaft is supported-in the main frame of the ma chine and the drum is provided with spider- 'hcads 8, and 8 respectively, at the front and rear ends thereo The seed grain and powdered material are fed to the rotary drum through the lower portion of the hopper 2 thence through the spider head oropen head 8 of the drum to the interior of the latter. Within the rotary drum are arranged a series of longitudinally extending ribs or blades 9, spaced about the inner periphery of the cylindrical drum, and designed to pick up and drop and thus agitate the seed and powder in order that the latter may thoroughly coat. the former, thusinsuring the proper treatment of the grain.

At the' discharge end of the rotaryidrum an axially alined cylindrical screen 10 of less diameter than the drum, is attached to provided With an outlet passage 14 for excoss powder, and also with a discharge, forked spout 15. The excess powder is recovered at the spout 14 and the seed grain is emptied into suitable bags (not shown) connected with the forked spout15.

For rotating the drum with its casin 12 and screen 10 on'the shaft 7% I may utilize a sprocket drive 16 from the operating shaft 17, the sprocket drive passing around the drum as shown in Figure l in operative relat1on thereto to impart the necessary rotation to the drum and its parts. Power 'is applied to the shaft 17 through a pulley 18 thereon which pulley is driven by a belt (not shown) in usual manner. A sprocket wheell9 is also indicated on the shaft 17 which may be utilized to drive a fannin mill or similar device if required.

For convenience of suspending the bags to receive the seed grain, hooks as 20 are utilized at the discharge endof the machine in proximity to the forked spout 15, as seen in Figure 1.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination in a grain treating machine with a rotary. drum and a main hopper, of a powder hopper disposed within the main hopper and having means for adjusting the area of an opening in the bottom of said powder hopper, an agitator in the powder hopper, and means carried by.

the drum for operating the agitator.

The combination with a rotary-drum, a main hopper, and a powder hopper having adjustable means for varying its opening to the main hopper, of an agitator in the powder-hopper, a spring retained actuating device pivoted on the main hopper,= anda tappet carried by the drum for co-action with said device.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa-' ture.

- CLAUDE e. OALKINS. 

